Thanks everyone for the posts. Guess my bike is fine, and if my rear wheel fails again, I will pursue a custom builder. What I have now is an upgrade, a

Sta-tru wheels etrto 622x16 700cc 32 spoke

With this tire:

700x45c borough xc

I took it back in this week and the gut at AllStar bike in Cary - who I genuinely believe knows his stuff - noticed that the rear axes was not seating fully into the drop-ins, it was a little short. He replaced with a longer one. The measurement on the drop-in on the frame was right on the money.

All that said, any other parting advice? Thanks again.... You definitely apswayed me to keep it, and to ficus again on rear wheeel replacement if needed. I like the form fit this bike has, hoping for better tomorrows!

Tim